The mechanical extraction press principle involves separating the oil, water, and shea nut cake from pre-prepared water–paste emulsion shown in Fig. 5. The extraction machine encompasses a movable unit driven by a motor/engine. The separated entities (oil, water, and cake) occur in layers and according to their mass.
How is shea butter extracted?
Soxhlet, enzymatic, and microwave processes for shea butter extraction: Soxhlet extraction with n-hexane (purple arrow), microwave-assisted extraction (orange arrow), enzymatic extraction (green arrow), and Soxhlet and microwave common steps (gray arrow). Common in all extraction steps are following the blue arrow
What is a shea tree used for?
A long-lived tree native to the Sahel regions of West Africa, the shea tree is a significant source of edible oil and shea butter (Choungo-Nguekeng et al., 2021). … Antimicrobial activities of the extract of shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn.
How much is a shea nut worth?
The annual worldwide export of shea nut from Africa is 350,000 MT of kernels with a market value of approximately $120 million to producing countries. The multifunctional properties of the shea butter depend strictly on its compositional properties: the peroxide value, moisture content, free fatty acid level and the insoluble impurities.